Vol 29 No 28    10 May  2024

East Leinster Athletics Championships

The East Leinster Schools Track and Field Championship was a testament to the talent and dedication of our athletes. Sean Aigboboh defended his Senior Boys 100m sprint title in an incredible display of athleticism, marking his final appearance at the district round of the tournament with a memorable victory. Brendan Solarin, Harry Ikolo, Arthur Kilroy, Daniel Martin, Katie Millar, and Ellie Oldrey also delivered outstanding performances, earning medals in their respective events.

Solarin, Ikolo, and Kilroy secured silver medals, showcasing their skill and commitment to excellence. Martin's bronze medals in the 100m and 200m sprint highlighted his speed, endurance, and prowess on the track. Millar impressed with a bronze in the Senior Girls Javelin, while Oldrey stormed to gold in the Minor Girls Hurdles and silver in the Open 100m Sprint, marking her first title in the red and black of HSD.  Sean Aigboboh, Ellie Oldrey, Brendan Solarin, Harry Ikolo, and Arthur Kilroy will now progress to Leinster Schools Athletics Championship, the next round of the prestigious series in their respective events.

Congratulations to all the athletes for their remarkable achievements and a big thank you to our coaches for their invaluable support. Your dedication and passion have made us proud and we look forward to cheering on more successes in the future.

The following are the medal winners from the East Leinster Schools Track and Field Championships: 

Daniel Martin - Bronze 100m and 200m
Harry Ted Ikolo - Silver Discuss Intermediate Boys
Brendan Solarin - Silver Long Jump Intermediate Boys
Sean Aigboboh - Gold 100m Senior Boys
Katie Millar - Bronze Javelin Senior Girls
Ellen Oldrey - Gold 75m Hurdles and Silver 100m Minor Girls
Ronan Lee - Gold High Jump Junior Boys
Aidan O'Connor - Silver 1500m Steeple Chase Intermediate Boys
Arthur Kilroy - Silver Long Jump U-16
Sean Aigboboh

Form 6 Art Portfolio

Art college had always been on my mind as an option. However, it took a long process of thinking and evaluating ideas before putting pen to paper, among other materials! I am a self-confessed procrastinator, but I found deep focus while making my portfolio. The short timeframe ended up working to my advantage. I was motivated to put my heart and soul into my notebook and individual pieces. My portfolio came together as a collection of work influenced by my six years of art at The High School. I focused on the textures and colors of natural objects. My ideas developed from sketches examining those features into prints, textile pieces, and patterns. I was inspired by artists who work with mixed media, my space, and the Irish history of motifs and line. After six weeks of non-stop painting, dyeing, printing, and sewing I submitted my portfolio to the National College of Art and Design. My portfolio will always be a very special project and turning point for my personal motivation to work hard at something. It allowed me to work creatively outside the academic demands of sixth year. I am delighted to say that I was accepted into NCAD. I look forward to working creatively over the next few years.
Sophie Donnan

In February, I completed assembling a portfolio of my work for a PLC art course at Liberties College. This process entailed collecting my artwork from previous years and creating new pieces for inclusion. Since Form 5, I have developed a collection of monoprints that I compiled into a small book. I gathered notebooks and completed pieces from my Leaving Certificate Art coursework. Leading up to the deadline, I focused on filling my sketchbook with quick drawings and paintings using watercolor and acrylic paints. Additionally, I revisited some of my past work, rearranged it and deconstructed it to create something fresh. During an interview with a tutor at the college where I presented my portfolio, everything went exceptionally well as I got accepted into the course. I am eagerly anticipating starting in September.
Erica Merriman

Form 4 Excursion

We departed on Thursday afternoon from Heuston Station, and after a long day of travel, we arrived at the hostel located at the base of the mountain in Kerry. On Friday morning, everyone rose early and was prepared for a full day of hiking. We set off quickly, and soon found ourselves among the hills, overlooking the vast glacial valley extending all the way to the seashore. The true challenge began as we approached the steep, sheer rocky mountain face. Despite its intimidating appearance, scaling it was not as challenging as anticipated, and we reached the summit swiftly. The panoramic view from above justified our hours of climbing - distant green fields, awe-inspiring rocky cliffs, and the sparkling blue sea under sunlight's embrace. We didn't linger at the peak for long before returning to the hostel in time for dinner. The remainder of that night was filled with conversations, card games, and movie watching. Saturday saw an early start once more; by 3.00 pm we were back where we had begun – Heuston Station.
Daniel Martin

Form 1 English

As part of Creative Schools Week and Mental Health Week, Form 1 pupils created positive and colorful bookmarks for Form 5 pupils. They designed logos and added slogans using colour psychology and persuasive writing techniques that they learned about while studying advertising in English class. The junior pupils presented the bookmarks to senior pupils at the end of Mental Health Week as a Random Act of Summer Kindness. The senior pupils were pleasantly surprised and delighted by the thoughtful creativity displayed.
Ms Burrowes

Rugby Success

Congratulations to Ruairí O'Luanaigh, who plays rugby for Lansdowne FC U15s. They won the Metro Cup final against Malahide 26-24 on Sunday 5 May.  We wish Ruairí every success as he progresses in the sport. 

HSD PA Donation

On Friday 19 April, Michael Binchy and I represented the Student Council accepting a cheque for €280 from The High School Dublin Parent's Association, officially marking the end of our highly successful fundraiser for Toilet Twnning, a charity providing clean water and hygenic sanitation to people living in extreme poverty. The High School and the HSD Parent's Association have twinned eleven toilets together in our school, and our hard work has also inspired Rathfarnham Parish Church of Ireland and the Rathfarnham Parish National School to twin their own toilets as well! We are grateful to the Parent's Association for supporting this initiative which was featured in last week's issue of the Newsletter.
Leo Shorten

HSD PA Summer Event

Dear Parent/Guardian

The HSD PA Committee is delighted to formally announce the Annual HSD PA Summer BBQ. It's a great opportunity to catch up at the end of another academic year.

When: Friday 31 May at 7.00 pm

Who: Parents/Guardians only

What: Catered BBQ and paid bar (one meal per ticket)

How: Ticketed event now available here.

Rathfarnham Parish Fête